Investigation of variants in UCP2 in Chinese type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate variants in UCP2 genes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese population.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a single nucleotide polymorphism-based and haplotype-based case-control study between the variants of UCP2 and DM and between the variants of UCP2 and DR in 479 Chinese patients with type 2 DM and 479 control subjects without DM. Two SNPs (rs660339 and rs659366) were selected as genetic markers.

Results

The risk allele C at UCP2 rs660339 was closely associated with DM in Chinese population. There was significant difference in rs660339 between DM and controls (P = 0.0016; OR [95%CI]  = 1.37 (1.14–1.65)). Subjects who were homozygous of the C allele were more likely to develop DM. The frequency of C allele was higher in DM (58%) than in control (51%). But this locus didn't have a definite effect on the onset of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (P = 0.44; OR [95%CI]  = 0.80 (0.56–1.14)) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (P = 1.00; OR [95%CI]  = 0.99 (0.74–1.34)) comparing to subjects with DM without retinopathy (DWR), respectively. Moreover, the UCP2 rs659366 polymorphism showed no significant difference between DM and control (P = 0.66; OR [95%CI]  = 1.10 (0.91–1.32)). However, there was a significant difference between PDR and DWR (P = 0.016; OR [95%CI]  = 0.66 (0.49–0.90)), but there was no difference between NPDR and DWR (P = 1.00; OR [95%CI]  = 0.96 (0.67–1.37)). Participants who carried the G allele at rs659366 were more likely to develop PDR. For the haplotype, C-A was present more frequently in DM than in control (16% vs 7%), indicating that it was risky, and T-A was present less in DM than in control (29% vs 35%). Haplotype frequencies in DR and DWR showed no significant difference (P = 0.068).

Conclusion

It was indicated that UCP2 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 DM and DR in Chinese population.

Relationship between common viral upper respiratory tract infections and febrile seizures in children from Suzhou, China

This study aimed to determine the potential predisposing factors for the development of febrile seizures among children with upper respiratory tract infection in the eastern Chinese region. Participants were individuals aged 6 months and 6 years (n = 189) who were diagnosed with febrile seizure, complicated with upper respiratory tract infection, and 174 age-matched children who had upper respiratory tract infection without seizures as controls. The viral antigens including influenza A and B, parainfluenza, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus were detected from nasopharyngeal aspirates. The incidence of influenza A infection was much higher in patients with febrile seizure than controls, especially those children aged >36 months. Patients with influenza A infection had higher body temperatures at seizure occurrence, shorter seizure duration, and shorter fever duration before seizure onset. Influenza A infections are frequently associated with febrile seizure in children with upper respiratory tract infection. During an influenza epidemic, effective vaccination of children, especially those with a past history of febrile seizure, may minimize the development of febrile seizure.

An outbreak of acute respiratory disease in China caused by human adenovirus type B55 in a physical training facility

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the cause of an acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) outbreak.

METHODS

Thirty-eight clinical samples were collected from 19 patients in an ARTI outbreak that occurred in a physical training facility in January 2013; patient demographic information was also collected. In addition, 60 influenza virus-negative samples from febrile respiratory patients were collected from the same community at the same time to determine whether these were the same infections. Multiplex PCR (multi-PCR) was used to detect the possible pathogen in these samples. All human adenovirus (HAdV)-positive samples were inoculated onto Hep-2 cells for isolation. HAdV isolates were typed by hexon gene, fiber gene, and whole genome sequencing using primers designed in-house and compared to different type/serotype HAdVs downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was used to determine the type of the HAdV.

RESULTS

Of the 38 samples, 34 from 17 cases were HAdV-positive; two of them were co-infected, one with respiratory syncytial virus A and the other with human rhinovirus. The hexon gene open reading frame (ORF; 2841 nucleotides (nt)) and fiber gene ORF (978 nt) were obtained from four HAdV strains (TJ-2013-92, TJ-2013-94, TJ-2013-100, TJ-2013-122) from three upper respiratory infection cases and one pneumonia case. They were all completely identical. One HAdV isolate, TJ-2013-90, was selected for whole genome sequencing; 34238 nt were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis showed the whole genome of TJ-2013-90 to be clustered together with HAdV-B55/HAdV-B11a. Three of 60 influenza virus-negative specimens were HAdV-positive, but hexon and fiber gene analysis showed that they were grouped in different branches to the HAdV isolates from this outbreak.

CONCLUSIONS

The cause of this ARTI outbreak was HAdV-B55. This was another outbreak caused by this re-emerging virus. Continuous surveillance of respiratory adenovirus is necessary for disease control.

[A cross-sectional study of pulmonary arterial hypertension in congenital heart disease by right heart catheterization]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in congenital heart disease (CHD) and analyze its independent risk factors.

METHODS

During May 2007 to December 2008, a total of 704 consecutive CHD patients initially admitted into Fuwai Hospital were recruited. Their baseline data were collected and right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed. Those with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥ 25 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) during RHC were diagnosed as PAH. Multiple Logistic regression was performed to analyze the independent risk factors of PAH.

RESULTS

There were 319 males and 385 females with a median age of 5 years. The causes included atrial septal defect (n = 185), ventricular septal defect (VSD, n = 452), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, n = 48) and a combinations of the above lesions (n = 19). And 280 (39.8%) CHD patients had PAH. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, systemic artery systolic blood pressure, VSD, PDA and combined lesions were independent risk factors of PAH in CHD (age: OR = 1.017, 95%CI: 1.001-1.033, P = 0.040; systemic artery systolic blood pressure: OR = 0.959, 95%CI: 0.944-0.975, P < 0.001; VSD: OR = 4.402, 95%CI: 2.615-7.411, P < 0.001; PDA: OR = 6.417, 95%CI: 3.079-13.373, P < 0.001; combined lesions: OR = 10.513, 95%CI: 3.641-30.355, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PAH is a common complication of CHD. Age, peripheral artery systolic blood pressure and type of lesion are independent risk factors of PAH in CHD.

Purification and characterization of Plantaricin ZJ5, a new bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ5

The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial potential of Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ5, a strain isolated from fermented mustard with a broad range of inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Here we present the peptide plantaricin ZJ5 (PZJ5), which is an extreme pH and heat-stable. However, it can be digested by pepsin and proteinase K. This peptide has strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus. PZJ5 has been purified using a multi-step process, including ammonium sulfate precipitation, cation-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interactions and reverse-phase chromatography. The molecular mass of the peptide was found to be 2572.9 Da using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The primary structure of this peptide was determined using amino acid sequencing and DNA sequencing, and these analyses revealed that the DNA sequence translated as a 44-residue precursor containing a 22-amino-acid N-terminal extension that was of the double-glycine type. The bacteriocin sequence exhibited no homology with known bacteriocins when compared with those available in the database, indicating that it was a new class IId bacteriocin. PZJ5 from a food-borne strain may be useful as a promising probiotic candidate.

Common variants in PCSK1 influence blood pressure and body mass index

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 1 (PCSK1) activates precursors pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proinsulin and prorenin. We investigated if common variants in the PCSK1 gene influence blood pressure and risk of hypertension. Additionally, we investigated the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In the Rotterdam Study (RS1), a prospective, population-based cohort (n=5974), four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs10515237, rs6232, rs436321 and rs3792747) in PCSK1 were studied. Linear and Cox regression models served to analyze associations between variants and end points. Replication was performed in the Rotterdam Study Plus1 (RSPlus1, n=1895). Rs436321 was significantly associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure and risk of hypertension (odds ratio (OR): 1.1-1.3; P<0.05 in both populations). Rs6232 was associated with body mass index (BMI) (P=0.007 and P=0.04 in RS1 and RSPlus1, respectively). In RSPlus1, heterozygotes for rs6232 had 1.5 times higher risk of obesity (OR: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-2.03; P=0.03). We did not find significant associations of PCSK1 with fasting insulin levels and T2D. We found an association of genetic variation in the PCSK1 gene with blood pressure and hypertension. Furthermore, we replicated the association of PCSK1 with BMI and obesity. No relationship was found between PCSK1 variants and fasting insulin levels and T2D. Our findings suggest that genetic variation in PCSK1 may contribute to, at least, some of these interrelated disorders.

Is the anisotropy of the upper critical field of Sr2RuO4 consistent with a helical p-wave state?

We calculate the angular and temperature T dependencies of the upper critical field Hc2(θ, ϕ, T) for the C4v point group helical p-wave states, assuming a single uniaxial ellipsoidal Fermi surface, Pauli limiting and strong spin-orbit coupling that locks the spin-triplet d-vectors onto the layers. Good fits to the Sr2RuO4 Hc2,a(θ, T) data of Kittaka et al (2009 Phys. Rev. B 80 174514) are obtained. Helical states with d(k) =kˆxxˆ −kˆyy and kˆyxˆ +kˆxy (or kˆxxˆ +kˆyyˆ and kˆyxˆ -kˆxyˆ ) produce Hc2(90°, ϕ, T) that greatly exceed (or do not exhibit) the fourfold azimuthal anisotropy magnitudes observed in Sr2RuO4 by Kittaka et al and by Mao et al (2000 Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 991), respectively.

First-order chiral to non-chiral transition in the angular dependence of the upper critical induction of the Scharnberg-Klemm p-wave pair state

We calculate the temperature T and angular (θ, ϕ) dependencies of the upper critical induction Bc2(θ, ϕ, T) for parallel-spin superconductors with an axially symmetric p-wave pairing interaction pinned to the lattice and a dominant ellipsoidal Fermi surface (FS). For all FS anisotropies, the chiral Scharnberg-Klemm (SK) state Bc2(θ, ϕ, T) exceeds that of the chiral Anderson-Brinkman-Morel (ABM) state and exhibits a kink at θ = θ*(T, ϕ), indicative of a first-order transition from its chiral, nodal-direction behavior to its non-chiral, antinodal-direction behavior. Applicabilities to Sr2RuO4, UCoGe and the candidate topological superconductor CuxBi2Se3 are discussed.

Identification and assessment of potential water quality impact factors for drinking-water reservoirs

Various reservoirs have been serving as the most important drinking water sources in Zhejiang Province, China, due to the uneven distribution of precipitation and severe river pollution. Unfortunately, rapid urbanization and industrialization have been continuously challenging the water quality of the drinking-water reservoirs. The identification and assessment of potential impacts is indispensable in water resource management and protection. This study investigates the drinking water reservoirs in Zhejiang Province to better understand the potential impact on water quality. Altogether seventy-three typical drinking reservoirs in Zhejiang Province encompassing various water storage levels were selected and evaluated. Using fifty-two reservoirs as training samples, the classification and regression tree (CART) method and sixteen comprehensive variables, including six sub-sets (land use, population, socio-economy, geographical features, inherent characteristics, and climate), were adopted to establish a decision-making model for identifying and assessing their potential impacts on drinking-water quality. The water quality class of the remaining twenty-one reservoirs was then predicted and tested based on the decision-making model, resulting in a water quality class attribution accuracy of 81.0%. Based on the decision rules and quantitative importance of the independent variables, industrial emissions was identified as the most important factor influencing the water quality of reservoirs; land use and human habitation also had a substantial impact on water quality. The results of this study provide insights into the factors impacting the water quality of reservoirs as well as basic information for protecting reservoir water resources.

Increased levels of plasma CXC-Chemokine Ligand 10, 12 and 16 are associated with right ventricular function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate plasma levels of CXC-Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10), CXC-Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) and CXC-Chemokine Ligand 16 (CXCL16) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

METHODS

Plasma levels of biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 61 patients with IPAH and 20 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

Plasma CXCL10, CXCL12 and CXCL16 concentrations were increased significantly in IPAH patients compared with controls, and significantly correlated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion and right ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased levels of CXCL10, CXCL12 and CXCL16 are associated with right ventricular dysfunction in patients with IPAH.

Purification and characterisation of plantaricin ZJ008, a novel bacteriocin against Staphylococcus spp. from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ008

A novel bacteriocin, plantaricin ZJ008 produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ008 isolated from fresh milk, was purified by XAD 2, cation exchange chromatograph, gel chromatograph, and RP-HPLC. Mass spectrometry based on MALDI-TOF indicated that the bacteriocin had a molecular of 1334.77 Da. Only five of twenty amino acids could be identified by Edman degradation. This bacteriocin was highly thermostable (121°C, 30 min) and exhibited narrow pH stability (pH 4.0-5.0). It was sensitive to α-Chymotrypsin, trypsin, papain, and pepsin. However it still had 80% of activity after treatment by proteinase K. The action mode of this peptide functioned as bactericidal, but it did not lead to lysis of cells. This bacteriocin exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially Staphylococcus spp. These results suggested that this bacteriocin appears potentially very useful to control and inhibit Staphylococcus spp. in the food industry.

Wnt signaling in form deprivation myopia of the mice retina

BACKGROUND

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays important roles in cellular proliferation and differentiation, axonal outgrowth, cellular maintenance in retinas. Here we test the hypothesis that elements of the Wnt signaling pathway are involved in the regulation of eye growth and prevention of myopia, in the mouse form-deprivation myopia model.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

(1) One hundred twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly distributed into form-deprivation myopia and control groups. Form-deprivation myopia (FDM) was induced by suturing the right eyelid, while the control group received no treatment. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, eyes were assessed in vivo by cycloplegic retinoscopic refraction and axial length measurement by photography or A-scan ultrasonography. Levels of retinal Wnt2b, Fzd5 and β-catenin mRNA and protein were evaluated using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. (2) Another 96 mice were divided into three groups: control, drugs-only, and drugs+FDM (by diffuser). Experimentally treated eyes in the last two groups received intravitreal injections of vehicle or the proteins, DKK-1 (Wnt-pathway antagonist) or Norrin (Wnt-pathway agonist), once every three days, for 4 injections total. Axial length and retinoscopic refraction were measured on the 14th day of form deprivation. Following form-deprivation for 1, 2, and 4 weeks, FDM eyes had a relatively myopic refractive error, compared with contralateral eyes. There were no significant differences in refractive error between right and left eye in control group. The amounts of Wnt2b, Fzd5 and β-catenin mRNA and protein were significantly greater in form-deprived myopia eyes than in control eyes.DKK-1 (antagonist) reduced the myopic shift in refractive error and increase in axial elongation, whereas Norrin had the opposite effect in FDM eyes.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our studies provide the first evidence that the Wnt2b signaling pathway may play a role in the development and progression of form-deprivation myopia, in a mammalian model.

Establishing an experimental rat model of photodynamically-induced retinal vein occlusion using erythrosin B

AIM

To develop a reliable, reproducible rat model of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with a novel photosensitizer (erythrosin B) and study the cellular responses in the retina.

METHODS

Central and branch RVOs were created in adult male rats via photochemically-induced ischemia. Retinal changes were monitored via color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography at 1 and 3h, and 1, 4, 7, 14, and 21d after irradiation. Tissue slices were evaluated histopathologically. Retinal ganglion cell survival at different times after RVO induction was quantified by nuclear density count. Retinal thickness was also observed.

RESULTS

For all rats in both the central and branch RVO groups, blood flow ceased immediately after laser irradiation and retinal edema was evident at one hour. The retinal detachment rate was 100% at 3h and developed into bullous retinal detachment within 24h. Retinal hemorrhages were not observed until 24h. Clearance of the occluded veins at 7d was observed by fluorescein angiography. Disease manifestation in the central RVO eyes was more severe than in the branch RVO group. A remarkable reduction in the ganglion cell count and retinal thickness was observed in the central RVO group by 21d, whereas moderate changes occurred in the branch RVO group.

CONCLUSION

Rat RVO created by photochemically-induced ischemia using erythrosin B is a reproducible and reliable animal model for mimicking the key features of human RVO. However, considering the 100% rate of retinal detachment, this animal model is more suitable for studying RVO with chronic retinal detachment.

Protein and miRNA profiling of radiation-induced skin injury in rats: the protective role of peroxiredoxin-6 against ionizing radiation

Radiation-induced skin injury is a serious concern during radiotherapy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of radiation-induced skin injury has not been extensively reported. Most biological functions are performed and regulated by proteins and noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs). The interplay between mRNA and miRNA has been implicated in disease initiation and progression. Technical advances in genomics and proteomics have enabled the exploration of the etiology of diseases and have the potential to broaden our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of radiation-induced skin injury. In this study, we compared the protein and miRNA expression in rat skin irradiated with a 45-Gy electron beam with expression from adjacent normal tissues. We found 24 preferentially expressed proteins and 12 dysregulated miRNAs in irradiated skin. By analyzing the protein and miRNA profiles using bioinformatics tools, we identified a possible interaction between miR-214 and peroxiredoxin-6 (PRDX-6). Next, we investigated the expression of PRDX-6 and the consequences of its dysregulation. PRDX-6 is suppressed by radiation-inducible miR-214 and is involved in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced skin injury. Overexpression of PRDX-6 conferred radioresistance on cells, decreased cell apoptosis, and preserved mitochondrial integrity after radiation exposure. In addition, in vivo transfection with PRDX-6 reduced radiation-induced reactive oxygen species and the malondialdehyde concentration and ameliorated radiation-induced skin damage in rats. Our present findings illustrate the molecular changes during radiation-induced skin injury and the important role of PRDX-6 in ameliorating this damage in rats.

MicroRNA-93 inhibits inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages by targeting IRAK4

Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) is an animal model of acute ocular inflammation for the study of human endogenous anterior uveitis. The mechanisms accounting for the development of ocular inflammation remain hazy. MicroRNAs (mi-RNAs) have been proposed as novel regulators of inflammation. It remains unclear whether a microRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism is involved in LPS-induced EIU. In this study, we report that miR-93 expression in the eyes of EIU rats and LPS-stimulated macrophages is significantly decreased. We also show that miR-93 inhibits NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines by targeting IRAK4 expression. We further demonstrate that miR-93 inhibits IRAK4 expression by binding directly to the 3'-UTR of IRAK4. Our findings suggest that miR-93 is a negative regulator of the immune response in EIU.

[Study on the correlation between serum lipid and serum carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A in rural adults over 40 years in Tianjin]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the status of serum lipids and analyze its relationship with carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1 A) in rural people over 40 in Tianjin, China.

METHODS

By cluster multi-stratified sample of 719 people over 40 was investigated with a questionnaire from rural areas in Tianjin. And finally draw a conclusion based on data analysis from fasting blood and measured total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and CPT1 A.

RESULTS

In this research, the rate of dyslipidemia was 46.73%, in which 48.22 percent male and 45.41 percent female, a nonsignificant difference. CPT1 A correlated with TC, LDL-C were 0.123 and 0.130, with simple linear regression, and there was only significant difference between LDL-C and CPT1 A by multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is a high rate of dyslipidemia among the rural people over the age of 40 in Tianjin, and the CPT1 A is closely associated with serum lipid.